B1.2 Maven Binoculars Review – Worth The Upgrade?

I’ve heard great things about Maven binoculars, but in all honesty, I couldn’t quite convince myself that quality optics like these Maven B1.2 binoculars were really worth the investment. After all, I’m that buddy of yours that you delicately try to guide towards the buck you spotted 300 yards away: “He’s right there. How can you not see him?!  Next to the burned snag…literally the only burned snag in this entire basin…”  We could be in the middle of a glacier with an animal being the only thing that’s not white, and I would still struggle to find him. 

I’ve had many friends over the years tell me that improving one’s ability to glass and find animals on a hunt is dependent on two big things: decent glass and lots of time behind it.  One of those is entirely on me, but I also realized I do need some decent glass. These Maven binoculars have unquestionably helped me step up my glassing.  

My Review Context – Maven Binoculars review

Now, for some context of where this review is coming from. If you hadn’t figured it out yet, I’m far from an “expert” when it comes to optics, but I wanted to write this review from the perspective of someone who has always “gotten by” with entry level binoculars, so forgive me if this isn’t the most technical optics’ review you’ve ever read. I’m truly coming at this from the perspective of asking some basic questions. Is it worth it to upgrade from entry level binoculars? Is there REALLY a difference in performance?

I was highly skeptical that better glass would help me pick up a moose standing in the middle of a glacier in the North Pole, much less an animal wearing a coat designed to totally camouflage in its habitat.

Nevertheless, I was open to finding out. Could a pair of binoculars priced around $1,000 help me spot animals any better than the $200 pair I’d been using since I first started hunting? To the individual reading this who is all too familiar with optics and using a good pair of binoculars, this might seem like a no brainer, but to the person not accustomed to using great optics, this is a legit question. This was me.

Maven B1.2 Specs

I won’t even pretend to sit here and fake my way through some of the terminology in the world of optics and act like I know what it all means.  I won’t even act like I’m the most qualified guy on the Backwoods Pursuit team to write a review on optics, because well, I’m not.   

However, I am like many of you who have spent years with a set of $99 Bushnell’s before picking up an “upgraded” pair of binoculars on sale at Sportsman’s Warehouse for $189 meanwhile always wondering, “Is there really a difference in going the next level up?”  With that in mind, let’s start with some specs.

I may not know what all of it means in technical terms, but I can tell you after doing this review that this upgrade is definitely noticeable even for the amateur, and that, if you’re like me, the Maven B1.2 Binoculars are definitely worth purchasing!   

Details and Materials: Maven B1.2 Specs

Everything about the Maven B.1.2 binoculars give you confidence in their build quality.  The body is made of magnesium with a heavily textured, diamond-cut focus knob that makes focusing with one hand effortless.  

The lenses have all been internally nitrogen purged, which means they won‘t fog up on you. I had zero fogging issues in a variety of temperature ranges from the low teens on late season hunts, to the summer-like temps of early September.   

Optical Performance: Maven B1.2 Binoculars

The Maven B1.2 binoculars have much better edge-to-edge clarity, and the colors are much more vibrant than my previous low end binoculars. My whole experience viewing landscape was different as I was able to see so much more than in the past. The upgrade I made to these Maven binoculars made a world of difference for me! I am finally able to spot deer, taking my hunting to the next level, and my buddies are thanking me as they don’t have to sit there forever trying to point out what they see that I can’t. Owning a pair of the Maven B1.2 binoculars leveled the playing field.  

What I Liked: Maven B1.2 Binoculars

You notice the quality and craftsmanship on these Maven binoculars the second you get your hands on the box.  The layout of the packaging is thoughtful and everything speaks to the quality of the product.

The magnesium body gives you confidence that these aren’t going to fall apart in your hand or be missing eye cups when you pull them out of a harness.  In fact, the adjustable eyecups give you enough tactile feedback that you are confident they are where you want them each time you pull them out to use.  

Sure, this all comes at the expense of weight, but I would argue it’s a tradeoff well worth it for glass that could easily last you many, many years and help you spot whatever you are looking to find in the backwoods.   

As mentioned, it’s hard to find many if any flaws with the B1.2s.  The size is manageable without being too heavy or bulky.  They accept an Aziak Binocular clamp and Wiser Precision Sparrow bino adapter well.  The focus knob is metal and allows for easy micro adjustments.  It’s hard to ask for much more out of a pair of binos that are at the price point they are. 

Direct To Consumer: Maven Optics

I love that Maven is direct-to-consumer with a lifetime warranty.  The Maven B1.2 binoculars are a terrific product with a great warranty at a price your wallet won’t hate. For me, this made having a higher level of glass actually possible.  An MSRP of $1,000 at the time of this writing isn’t spare change you’re going to find in your couch cushions, but it’s much more affordable than the $3,000 price tag of the Swarovski NL Pure, and for me, a huge upgrade to the low-end binoculars I previously used.  

What I Disliked: Maven B1.2 Binoculars

To be honest, there’s not a lot I didn’t like about the Maven B1.2 binoculars. For the money, they are amazing, feel super durable, are comfortable in hand, and are a huge step up from what I had used in years past, making spotting that buck or elk so much easier. Sure, if I was more experienced in testing optics, I could probably pick out some optical differences between these and the alpha glass, but as I stated above, that’s just not me.

The obvious standout from what I was use to was the weight and bulk of these Maven binoculars, which is being nitpicky. There is a noticeable difference between the Maven B1.2 binoculars and my previous pair, but that was to be expected with the increase in quality. Simply put, optical performance typically comes at the cost of increased weight, no matter the brand. There are very few exceptions to this. That being said, the 27 ounces of these Maven B1.2 binoculars is noticeably less than the aforementioned Swarovski NL Pure, which come in at 30 ounces for the 10×42 configuration.  

The Maven B1.2 binoculars aren‘t so bulky that I needed to purchase a new bino harness as they fit well in the one I had used with my low-end pair. The Maven B1.2 binos easily nestled into a my small Marsupial bino harness.

Conclusion

So what’s the verdict?  Is your average hunter able to go from a $200 pair of binoculars into these and actually notice a difference?  Absolutely! It’s not even close!  I was shocked.  I was not only able to find animals out in plain sight for once, but I was also able to spot bucks that were bedded down a couple hundred yards away – something that seemed reserved only for those who had a minimum of 112 years of hunting experience up until this point.   

Make sure to check out our other gear reviews and the Backwoods Pursuit YouTube Channel to help you decide what gear will help you stay out in the field longer!

I won’t sit here and tell you I’m the guy you want to take with you to help you spot the big boys before last light- I’m not. (But I’m still a dang good time!)  Maybe it is the fact that I spent way more time hunting on my own this year than in previous years which forced me to get better at finding animals, or it was the new glass? 

It could be a combination of both, however, I remember mentally taking note of how many times I surprised myself at finding animals in areas and times of day that I probably wouldn’t have before. I’ve got to give it to the fact that upgrading to the Maven B1.2 binoculars made me much better at spotting something in the backcountry than before.   

If you’re in the market for a new set of binoculars or are like me and looking to upgrade without it costing you a mortgage payment, the Maven B1.2s deserve your attention. You won’t regret making the switch!   

And unlike Maven’s guarantee, I can’t guarantee that I STILL won’t have to have my buddies point out exactly which burned tree that buck might be next to… 

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